Athletic Report
November 6, 1999

MICHAEL WALTON, FLOYD WHITE NAMED FIRST TEAM GTE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Garett Williams, James Stewart Selected to 2nd Team
PORTALES, NM — Eastern New Mexico University senior linebackers Michael Walton (5’10”, 215 lbs., Earth, TX/Texas Tech U.) and Floyd White (6’1”, 230 lbs., Pampa, TX/Pampa H.S.) have been named to the GTE Academic All-District VI College Division First Team as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Walton, White and 22 other players named to the First Team are eligible for the GTE Academic All-America College Division Team, which will be announced next month.

Two other ENMU players were named to the GTE Academic All-District VI College Division Second Team. They are junior defensive end James Stewart (6’1”, 228 lbs., Anton, TX/N.M. Military Inst.) and junior linebacker Garett Williams (6’1”, 205 lbs., Monahans, TX/ Monahans H.S.).

A total of 23 players received Second Team recognition. The College Division includes players in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA. The Greyhounds, led by Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott (6th year at ENMU), compete in NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference.

Eastern is currently 7-3 in 1999, including 5-3 (2nd place) in the LSC South Division. ENMU was 8-3 overall and 6-3 in the LSC South in 1998. CoSIDA District VI includes colleges and universities in New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.

Players nominated for the GTE Academic All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative grade point averages of 3.2 or higher (4.0 scale). Each player had to be at his current college or university for at least one full year.

Walton, ENMU’s all-time leading tackler with 505 tackles, has a 3.547 cumulative GPA. He is majoring in Special Education, and has been named to the LSC All-Academic Team twice (1997 and 1998; 1999 not yet determined).He was named to four All-America teams in 1998 — 1st Team AFCA/Burger King, 2nd Team A.P. Little All-America, 2nd Team Daktronics, Inc. All-America and 2nd Team Football Gazette All-America. He was chosen to the First Team Daktronics Division II All-West Region Team in 1998, and was a 2nd Team selection in 1997. He was a Third Team Football Gazette All-America pick in 1997.

Walton leads the 1997 Hounds with 137 total tackles. He has led ENMU in tackles all four years, with 96 in 1996, 155 in 1997 and 117 in 1998. Walton has recorded 57 career tackles for losses (245 yards lost) and has registered 15.0 quarterback sacks (119 yards lost). He was voted First Team All-LSC South each of the past two seasons, and was chosen LSC South Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year in 1998. He has started every game (43) since arriving at ENMU, and has been chosen LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week three times (Nov. 8, 1997 vs. West Texas; Sept. 19, 1998 vs. SW Okla.; and Sept. 18, 1999 vs. Ouachita Bapt.).

White has also played in all 43 games the past four years. He has achieved a 3.611 GPA while majoring in Biology. On the field, he has made 256 career tackles, including 29 tackles for losses (128 yards lost) and 10.5 sacks (93 yards lost).

This year, White is second on the team with 90 total tackles. White was selected as a Burger King Scholar-Athlete on Oct. 2, 1999, an award that gave ENMU $10,000 for its general scholarship fund. In 1998, he was named to the LSC Academic Honor Roll. He has earned LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors three times (Sept. 26, 1998 vs. SE Okla.; Oct. 3, 1998 vs. Abilene; and Sept. 25, 1999 vs. NE State).

Stewart, a Health and Physical Education major , has a 3.325 GPA. He transferred to Eastern from N.M. Military Institute prior to the 1998 season. Stewart has earned 59 career tackles, including 43 as a starter at defensive end this season. He has made 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 1999, resulting in 51 yards lost. Last year, he played linebacker, and saw action in every game while earning 16 tackles. He was named LSC South Defensive Player-of-the-Week in Eastern’s 27-13 win over Tarleton State on Oct. 16, 1999.

Williams, in his third season at ENMU, has achieved 101 total tackles. He has become more successful each season, earning 13 tackles in 1997, 30 in 1998 and 58 so far in 1999. He is a well-rounded linebacker, who provides solid run defense and quality pass coverage. He has 10 career tackles for losses, including 5 this season. He owns a 3.80 GPA and is majoring in Biology.